Diluted Bleach Can Solve Problems
Once your vet gives you the go-ahead for using a bleach solution, prep your mixture. Never use undiluted bleach, as it can be very damaging to the skin and soft tissues. Likewise, keep your bleach mixture away from your dog’s eyes, ears, and nose.
Undiluted bleach can cause issues such as coughing, vomiting, and even chemical burns. Never use bleach for bathing your dog unless your vet explicitly tells you “you need to use a bleach bath for your dog.”
The dangerous nature of bleach means that it must be handled carefully. Whatever problem your dog has can most likely be fixed with a much safer shampoo or another treatment method that does not carry the same risks that bleach does.
You will not be pouring bleach on your dog’s ringworm to get rid of it, but you can use bleach to disinfect the play area of your dog to prevent the ringworm from re-surging.
Ringworm is identifiable by the unique pattern that it leaves on the skin. You will notice round, crusty patches on your dog’s skin and coat.
The ringworm fungus is common and not necessarily life-threatening. However, it is still a health hazard and can be transferred to humans.
If your dog has ringworm, your vet will probably give you an antibiotic, ointment, or shampoo to treat it (or maybe all three). However, these treatments will only treat your dog. They will not eliminate any remaining fungus that may linger in your dog’s living area and reinfect them.
In this case, you can use one part bleach to ten parts of water to disinfect the dog’s areas. Spray this solution on locations you think the fungus may exist, and let it dry before allowing your dog into the area. You can also frequently vacuum these places (and dispose of the bag immediately) to remove any last traces.
If your dog has a problem with fleas or other parasites, wash their bedding with bleach. This is a very similar technique to dealing with ringworm.
The bleach itself will not be making contact with your dog, but it will be the way to clean their living arrangements.
Hot water and bleach will disinfect your dog’s bedding and plush toys, killing any bacteria, fungus, or parasites that may try to find a place to live.
Always make sure that your dog’s accessories are fully dry before giving them back to avoid exposure to bleach fumes.
Cleaning your dog’s bedding regularly will ensure that they do not develop skin conditions or other issues. If your dog’s bedding still smells after a bleach wash, it’s best to replace it.
What is a safe dilution ratio for bleach?
Exposure to bleach through ingestion, breathing or touching can be harmful to all pets.
The dilution ratio affects the toxicity of the chemical and there are different dilution ratios depending on your intended use.
There are various dilution calculators and lots of advice online when it comes to working out how much bleach you should use for your intended task.
This made me stop and think; if there are mathematical calculations needed in order to use a product safely in my home, am I happy to take the risk?
Why It’s Time to Stop Using Bleach Around Dogs
Bleach is generally safe to use in pet-free businesses when properly diluted but it is not worth the risk for pet care professionals and veterinarians. A pet disinfectant is considered a standard pet cleaning product for veterinary clinics, kennels, and dog grooming centers. These places require high-grade yet safe cleaners, which kill microorganisms that can cause infections.
Regular bleach just won’t be able to stop the spread of diseases the way that pet disinfectant is designed to do. Its not enough to clean up after a sick animal using everyone’s favorite cleaning agent. You must sanitize the area so that the germs cannot be transmitted to any other animals or humans.
Animal clinics, kennels, and groomers need a dependable vet disinfectant on top of their regular pet cleaning products because of the special nature of their pet care facilities. The solutions should be able to clean and sanitize equipment and other surfaces, including the tools and materials used for diagnosing and treating animals.
Benefit Of Apple Cider Vinegar Bath | American Bully XL
Bleach is commonly used to rid surfaces of germs, dirt, or other impurities. However, it is not a safe choice to use around dogs and other pets. Bleach contains chlorine, which is considered toxic to many animals and, at the very least, will damage a dog’s fur and at the other end of the spectrum is life-threatening when swallowed.
Despite this risk, it is amazing that some pet care centers, and vet clinics alike, still depend on bleach to clean their facilities knowing that bleach is harmful to dogs due to its toxic content. But what many may not know is that bleach is ineffective against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses making bleach unsafe for sanitizing kennels, clinics, and grooming centers.